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I have multiple DVT's in the upper arm. Is there something wrong with my blood?

Question:

I have been recently diagnosed with multiple DVT's in the upper right arm, this was found by an ultrasound exam. I am presently awaiting an MRI. I have ongoing pain in my shoulder, upper arm and sometimes spreading to my back. Is this normal for DVT's? I also have swelling in my hand usually swollen double the size of my left hand. Is this common with DVT's in the upper arm? My brother who is 7 years older has had two strokes in 6 months. I fear there is an abnormality in our blood through genetics. Other then living with the pain and swelling should I be concerned? Please guide me in what I should discuss with my GP. We are from a very small island with few specialists. Thank you so much.
Prince Edward Island, Canada.

Answer:

I suggest that you speak with your doctor about being referred to both a vascular surgeon and a hematologist. DVT of the arm can occur with or without an associated abnormality of the blood. In addition to treating any acute DVT problems, it is important to check for some very specific abnormailites of the blood which may predispose to subsequent clot formation in the arm or elsewhere in the body. If an abnormality is detected on the blood tests, treatment can be administered to hopefully prevent more clots from forming. For patients presenting to me with problems such as you describe, I check for Protein C and Protein S deficiencies, Lupus anticoagulant, Factor V Leiden Mutation, Anti-thrombin C and other tests. A certified hematologist will know what to check for during this work-up for a "thrombotic tendency". For general information about DVT, I recommend that you look at Video #9 (DVT) in the "Video Library" section of this website.